Interior Lighting

Open plan homes have many perks, but they can be difficult to light. By placing lights thoughtfully, you can ensure there is ample illumination throughout the space while also zoning out the different areas.

The best advice is to layer your lights. You’ll want ambient lighting providing the base illumination, and task and accent lighting separating out the rest. For example, including bright, focused task lights over kitchen islands helps make the kitchen stand out independently. Installing dimmable indoor lighting in living rooms sets the space apart as somewhere to relax.

Be sure that the light fixtures throughout the space all match one another. They do not have to be identical, but choosing similar shapes and finishes can create a streamlined look. This will make your interior space seem cohesive and balanced, while still giving individual flair to each zone.

Make the most out of any light you install by incorporating mirrors into the space. Mirrors help bounce light around more easily, and may mean that you need fewer fixtures to achieve the desired results.

There are many different types of LED interior lights that you have available to you. Below, we will take a look at some of the most common ones:

• RECESSED LIGHTS. Recessed lights are commonly used as LED indoor lights. They are lights that are fully contained inside of a floor, ceiling or wall. Most commonly, you will find them in the ceilings. They lay flush with the surface and only have the light bulb and the surrounding fixture protruding from it with a low profile.

• TRACK LIGHTS. Track lights are LED downlights that are mounted on the ceiling, usually on a long bar or “track.” They point downward and often have movable heads that you can use to direct the illumination to a certain place. Due to their ability to shine directed light and their modern appearance, many people like to use them to highlight features in the home or art on the walls.

• PENDANT LIGHTING. Pendant lights are a common choice for LED ambient lighting. Pendant lights get their name from being similar to a pendant necklace, where the actual light fixture hangs from a chain or cable and serves as the pendant. They are simple to set up and can make for some pretty dramatic lighting opportunities.

• WALL SCONCES. Incorporating LED wall lighting into the home is an important part of layering lights. These lights attach to the wall and are particularly beneficial for installing in darker areas of the home where ambient and task lighting have a hard time reaching. They are common in hallways and near side tables.

• AMBIENT LIGHTING. Ambient lighting is one of the three major types of indoor lighting and is responsible for providing most of the light around the room. Anything that is bright and powerful enough to light up the entire room can be considered ambient lighting. Usually, this is a ceiling light, but it can also be a fair size floor lamp.

• TASK LIGHTING. LED task lighting is designed to be used for specific tasks and is common over kitchen sinks, islands, countertops, desks or in reading nooks. Task lighting most commonly comes in the form of under cabinet lighting, desk lamps, LED wall lights and table lamps.
  

• ACCENT LIGHTING. Accent lighting can draw attention to certain features in the home. Track lighting is only one example of this type of light. You can also use sconces, lamps and hanging lights to draw attention to different areas of the home. You will also see accent lighting as recessed lights, picture lighting, cove lighting and wall sconces. Designer lighting is often a good choice for accent lighting.

Mood lighting is exactly what it sounds like: lighting that sets a mood or atmosphere in a given space. Mood lighting makes a room pleasant for the eyes and relaxing to be in while also eliminating shadows that are usually caused by the ambient lights. Without bright, glaring lights, the room can feel more comfortable, cosy and inviting.

This type of light tends to be closest to the eye level, such as in the form of lamps on tables, so it’s a good idea to have a diffuser or shade on the lamp to keep things soft and free of glare. Putting mood lighting just above eye level will provide illumination to the room without being uncomfortable for the eyes. It will also be more flattering for those in the space since it doesn’t create shadows. Mood lighting is good to have around for nights you are relaxing and don’t need any bright task lights or ample ambient lighting.

Wall lights are especially good for mood lighting as they can create a gentle spread of indirect, soft light. Using uplights will send the light up a wall, not only drawing attention to a certain space but also lighting the area indirectly. Floor lamps can also set a mood, as they will create a more defined space to relax, such as by a chair. In the dining room, a floor lamp will create a warm atmosphere for socialising and dining.

Bedroom mood lighting happens with table lamps and reading lights as the lighting source. In the kitchen, you can install plinth lighting. The light will shine up from the kickboards, giving you enough light to see as you walk through the space at night without being too bright.

Speaking of brightness, dimmer switches are important to consider. Dimmer switches make it possible for you to lower the level of light to a comfortable level throughout the evening and night.

LED lights are indeed able to be dimmed. It requires that you use a transformer or driver to channel the amount of electricity needed by the LED light. If you don’t use the right transformer, there may not be enough consistent power to the lights. This can cause the light to flicker. You can tell if a bulb is dimmable at all by reading the package that the light comes in or the description on the website from which you purchase it. To be able to dim the lights, you will need to install a dimmer.

LED colour temperature refers to the “colour” of light that a bulb produces, from warm to cool. The colour temperature is measured in units Kelvin. The lower the Kelvin rating, the warmer the light; the higher the rating, the cooler the light will be. Colour temperatures range from around 1000k to 7000k, though the most common lighting range is between 3200k and 6000k.

When it comes to colour temperatures for your home, many people prefer warm white lights with a colour temperature of around 3300k. This lighting is best for living rooms, bedrooms and other spaces you spend a lot of time in. It is gentler on the eyes while still being bright enough to easily see.

On the other hand, some people prefer cooler light with a 6000k colour temperature rating for bathrooms and kitchens. This light provides a brighter, crisper and bluer light by which to work. It shows the colours of the items it illuminates more accurately and gives off a cleaner, more modern appearance. Warm light tends to be cosier and has hints of reddish or yellow colours.

Ultimately, it will come down to your preferences. Whatever you choose, be sure you go with one or the other. Having both warm and cool lights in a space can clash and be quite unattractive.

LED lights last much longer than traditional bulbs. Where halogen bulbs, for instance, tend to last about 1,000 hours, you can expect LED lights to last for a minimum of 20,000 hours. This will save you plenty of time and money on maintenance and replacements, so you can put that energy toward decorating and lighting other aspects of your home.